Shaw going to Brazil - even if he's not in England's World Cup squad

Roy Hodgson is considering giving some of England’s young players the ultimate work experience trip by taking them to Brazil to improve their football education.

England’s head coach has held preliminary discussions with his Under 21 counterpart Gareth Southgate and the FA board about the possibility of a couple of novices joining the 23-man party that he will take to the World Cup.

If the plan goes ahead, the players would not be available for selection in any games but the experience of seeing what is required to prosper at a major tournament would be priceless going forward.

An example could be that if Hodgson chose Leighton Baines and Ashley Cole as his left backs for Brazil, Southampton’s Luke Shaw might be invited along to work with the squad. Other candidates might be highly-rated goalkeeper Jack Butland and Crystal Palace winger Tom Ince.

Southgate said: ‘There is also the possibility Roy might take a couple of youngsters for the experience. That is something Roy is thinking about.

‘Maybe taking a couple of younger players to give them experience of just being around it. It hasn’t been finalised but I am guessing it might be a couple of the older players who not young enough to play in Toulon. They might be in the frame for that.

‘It is something we have just touched upon really. But I think it shows the joined-up thinking with the England teams in trying to give our young players the right experience.’

On the plane? Tom Ince (left) and Jack Butland (below) could also be taken to Brazil

Senior moment: Raheem Sterling has graduated from the Under 21 squad

Shaw has almost certainly played his last game for the Under 21s, such has been the speed of his progress, and Southgate also feels that Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling and Everton midfielder Ross Barkley have also graduated into the senior ranks now.

‘I guess Ross will be an interesting one because he is not playing for his club so much at the moment,’ said Southgate. ‘I felt, particularly with Luke the last couple of times we have had him, if we didn’t lose him for the summer we probably would for the end of the campaign as Ashley Cole can’t go on for ever.’